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Morgan posts 49-0 shutout at Juan Diego

Oct 14, 2024 01:30PM ● By Brian Shaw

Senior Lincoln Gilson [No. 5] takes the pitch from quarterback Beck Sheffield [No. 7] and rumbles into daylight. Photo courtesy of Jessica Jorgensen

Through most of the Trojans 3A North Division opener at Juan Diego Friday Sept. 20, the hosts weren’t giving way as easily—a battle head coach Jared Barlow said his team was expecting. 

“We knew it would be a physical game, and it was,” said Coach Barlow of the Trojans 49-0 win. “I loved the focus that we had and the discipline with how we played.” 

Morgan [6-0] wasted zero time in scoring, as Lincoln Gilson walked into the end zone untouched with 1:09 elapsed, taking a 6-0 lead. This happened after the senior scorched the hosts with a 51-yard run two plays prior. 

Using flashcards did no good, either—Bridger Ostrander completely blew up one designed run-pass option 6 yards in Juan Diego’s backfield. 

The hosts then tried something out of Idaho Falls Skyline’s playbook, a pooch punt, to kick the ball away from Gilson. It almost worked—if not for the crafty senior who picked it up off Jake Hansen’s shoulder pad and ran it into plus territory. 

Then senior Drew Korth blasted into the end zone for his first score of the game with 4:50 left in the first quarter and a 14-0 Morgan lead. 

After that, the senior all-purpose back, who ended the game with 81 yards rushing and one more score in the second half, had a touchdown catch called back for holding. Then, the referees whistled the Trojans for four other penalties equaling 40 yards in just 10 seconds of action. 

The defense came to play as the sun dipped on this Friday night and the rains came down from Mount Olympus. The Trojans forced Juan Diego into third and long situations the entire game, bailing out several offensive miscues that included two interceptions thrown against strong winds. 

The best field position Juan Diego had in the first half: the Trojans 27. That was due to heads-up play from Tagg Rich, who blitzed from several fronts in the second quarter and had the game’s only sack. Alongside the junior’s teammates, they all made life miserable for the Soaring Eagle, who were tackled in the backfield by five different Trojans in the first half. 

After another pooch that Gilson fielded in the air, the senior bulled in for a 1-yard TD and 21-0 lead for the Trojans with 9:01 remaining in the second quarter. The next Juan Diego punt led to Hansen atoning for his earlier mistake as the junior juked several players en route to a 22-yard return. 

With 33 seconds left in the half, Gilson would tack on his third score of the game, a 5-yard plunge adding to his 151 total yards and 3 TDs he’d have to give Morgan a 28-0 lead that it’d increase with three more scores in the second half, two from junior Cade Randall, who himself was 5-for-5 with 106 yards passing.  

“We have never shut out Juan Diego, this was a first. We have an amazing group of coaches that get the team ready, and the ability to execute at a high level is awesome to watch,” said Coach Barlow. “I was excited to see how we came off the homecoming win against Kearns. The drive and focus this team has is second to none. Hopefully, we will continue to unite and work for a common goal.” 

In girls’ soccer, the Trojans posted 8-0 wins over Grantsville and Ben Lomond. Lacie Poll and Reece Crowther had four goals each, Kapree Charlton three, Macie Burton two and Macey Miller, Mia Summers and Saige Jones one. Maddie Fisher and Skye Bernardo each earned a shutout. λ


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